MV Isle of Islay

MV Isle of Islay is a roll-on/roll-off vehicle and passenger ferry being constructed for use by Caledonian MacBrayne on routes on the west coast of Scotland. She is the first of four ferries being built in Turkey for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, and is expected to be delivered in 2024 for service on routes linking Islay with Kennacraig on the mainland.

History
A contract to build two ferries for the Islay service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in March 2022. The first steel was cut on 3 October 2022. Her keel was laid on 13 January 2023, the same week that the first steel was cut for the second vessel. Following a public vote, the names Isle of Islay and Loch Indaal were chosen. Isle of Islay was launched on 16 March 2024, and is expected to be delivered in October 2024. The second vessel, MV Loch Indaal, is expected to be delivered in February 2025.

A £115m contract for two further ferries of the same design for CalMac's Skye, Harris and North Uist service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in early 2023.

Layout
The shipyard shows a drive-through ferry design with partially open vehicle deck. She will have two mezzanine car decks, one being a single lane and the other having two lanes. There will be the normal five car lanes and four commercial vehicle lanes for a CalMac vessel. Electric charging points will be available on the car deck.

The stern ramp will be able to change position depending on the port at which the ferry is berthed to allow ease of loading. This is a very similar design to the MV Glen Sannox (2017), which is also under construction for CalMac.

Service
The two vessels were ordered for the Islay services linking Port Askaig and Port Ellen with Kennacraig on the mainland. They are expected to provide a 40% increase in vehicle and freight capacity on the Islay routes compared to the current service provided by MV Finlaggan and MV Hebridean Isles. They have been designed to deliver a significant reduction in emissions.